Saturday, March 2, 2013

Kibendi Gaa (We're going home)

It’s hard to put into words the experience of visiting a
true village home. I really think you can only understand if you have lived it
as I have. However, I will try my best to convey this story through writing.

Geoffery is my mama’s farm boy. He has been working for her
for 5 years. Around here people call him the “human lowrey” because he is so
strong. He is also known as Baba Sangala because whenever I go out of town, he
is the one to care for my dog. But, he is much more than that. He has become
one of my best friends here. He has become the brother I never had. Geoffery
can’t speak any English, let alone Kiswahili, so we mostly communicate in
broken languages and hand gestures. He saves me from bugs, I let him eat my
baking…we have a mutually beneficial relationship.

Anyway, so for 5 years my mama had never been to Geoffery’s
home. He lives with us, actually just two doors down from me. But through my
encouragement, we ventured about an hour away and finally got to see where
Geoffery comes from. His home is down a long dirt road. You could tell very few
cars ever go that way from the roads condition (and also the looks we got as we
drove by). It has to be completely impassable in the rainy season. Luckily, we
had great weather.

We arrived to the gentle greeting of his father, an old
African man of around at least 60 years. You could see the lines of a long life
lived in the creases of his smile. His ears were cut in the traditional
Kalengin way. Geoffery’s sisters in law prepared us a meal of rise, beans,
potatoes and meat, and while they ate in the kitchen with the children, us
“distinguished guests” sat in the house. The house was a modest mud hut with a
tin roof, decorated with a few plastic chairs and a small table in the middle.

After we ate, we headed down into the farms to see some of
his other family and neighbors. They all also live in very small round
traditional mud huts. I was the first white person these people have ever seen
so they were curious to say the least. We drank a cup of chai at every house, I
thought I would burst. Sangala came along with us on the journey and everyone
took to him very well. One little boy adopted him for the day and took him
around on the leash. He wasn’t scared at all! One lady gave us a whole bag of
sweet potatoes from her farm.

Our last stop, and one more cup of chai, we sang and danced
and my mama presented the family with some gifts she had brought (a blanket, a
laso (wrap for head/body), and thermos). Everyone got up and said a word or two.
They were all so grateful we came. We went by a nearby school and I tell you, I
know what it feels like to be a celebrity. All the children were screaming when
I came in. They ran to me and petted my head and stroked my arm hair. They were
asking me all about America
and were surprised that I knew some of the language. All eyes were on me.
Literally I felt famous. They sang me their national anthem and then I had to
sing ours…which was horrible. I had to have broke some windows on “land of the
freeeeeee”.

Anyway, the best part of the whole day was seeing how happy
Geoffery was. He was so proud to introduce us to his family. After seeing where
he comes from, I know Geoffery must have had a very impoverished upbringing,
but the people don’t seem that way at all. They were all so happy and warm. It
makes me realize how you are never truly poor in Kenya. Money is not the most
important thing here. It’s family. And Geoffery is my family.

I think I will miss him the most. I always wonder how much
closer we could be if he could speak at least Kiswahili. But it has also taught
me that even language is not a true barrier of people. There really are none.
We are all the same. Like I said, it’s hard to really write down the emotions
that I went through during this experience, but I do know that a simple days
journey has changed me at least in a way. I’m being changed here everyday
little by little. And after a day like this, I think to myself, God is real,
and I just want to smile. I feel so at peace.

Anyway, I'm now at consolidation. They are
keeping all us Peace Corps Volunteers in one place during the elections. During
2007 there was mass violence and PC had to evacuate all the volunteers. This
time it is said to be more peaceful, but we are still taking precautions. I am
praying for peace in Kenya
and I ask for your prayers too. I’m not quite ready to leave because I want to
see my maternity ward completed. So far we have ¼ of the equipment. It’s been a
slow (very slow) process. Until then, I’ll be resting by the pool with my PCV
friends waiting for the results of the election. Most likely I’ll have wifi in
the hotel so skype me if you can at: andrea.flynn.schneider